Teachers assume a wide range of roles to support school and student success. Some of these roles are assigned formally while others are shared informally and they work to build the entire school's capacity to improve. One of the most important roles that a teacher plays is a resource and partner for their colleagues. Teachers' professional development cannot be separated from personal growth. Part of developing as a professional is working with colleagues and collaborating to develop rich lessons plans that encompass content, reach standards, and help achieve students' understanding. Engaging lessons are sometimes difficult to create on your own, however, with the help of colleagues, the key to success is never far.
Students' understanding of the very basic of mathematics is crucial in having students develop a strong foundation and understanding in the subject. In recognizing the critical nature of the very basic of skills, my colleagues have each taken it upon themselves to develop wikispaces that address ways to correct misunderstandings or misconceptions on a range of topics: proofs and mathematical arguments, sums, differences, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and a true understanding of real numbers. Each presentation works in conjunction with a chapter in the book Number Theory for Elementary School Teachers and is adapted to fit a middle school or a high school environment. Each wikispace provides an overview of the historical perspective on the topic, the developmental perspective (when students begin to understand these concepts), and problems encountered surrounded this topic.
The bulk of each wikispace builds on the developmental perspective in the book and provides developmentally appropriate strategies for middle school and high school students that need to acquire an understanding and the basic skills. Each link provides information of the topic as well as which of my colleagues developed the wikispace.
Technology is sometimes the key to success for students. Accessing information in an interactive and hands-on way allows students to explore content on their own in a visual way. There are several software programs accessible for teachers to help mathematics teachers teach mathematics in an engaging and interesting way that students will enjoy. Below are wikispaces that were developed by colleagues (in groups of three) in which the use of technology in mathematics was illustrated using the SAMR model. Examples were shown at each of the four levels: substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition as well as how technology would be used in a math lesson. At least one example in each of these wikispaces demonstrates how the selected technology can be used to encourage students to model in mathematics, as defined by CCSS and NCTM. Each wikispace also addresses the ethical and legal implications (or potential problems) when using the technology.
Developing lessons for middle schoolers is a very different experience, indeed. With members within each content area, middle school lessons were created using the TPACK and the transformation levels of the SAMR model. The lessons below were developed to teach students content (not related to a basic algebra classroom) that were taught in thirty minutes or lesson. The lesson was presented to gifted and talented eighth grade students in a concept or topic of the group's choice.
Unit development is essential for any teacher. Meeting the standards while presenting content in an effective and interesting way, as well as accommodating students who lack pre-requisite skills or who are gifted can be challenged. Colleagues, again, are a great resource, for they are full of different and unique ideas. Below are links to teach of my colleagues' units, organized by content.
To be redirected to a wikipage that organizes the unit by CCSS, click here.
Otherwise, here are the individual units completed by my peers:
Teachers assume a wide range of roles to support school and student success. Some of these roles are assigned formally while others are shared informally and they work to build the entire school's capacity to improve. One of the most important roles that a teacher plays is a resource and partner for their colleagues. Teachers' professional development cannot be separated from personal growth. Part of developing as a professional is working with colleagues and collaborating to develop rich lessons plans that encompass content, reach standards, and help achieve students' understanding. Engaging lessons are sometimes difficult to create on your own, however, with the help of colleagues, the key to success is never far.
Table of Contents
Number Theory Presentations
Students' understanding of the very basic of mathematics is crucial in having students develop a strong foundation and understanding in the subject. In recognizing the critical nature of the very basic of skills, my colleagues have each taken it upon themselves to develop wikispaces that address ways to correct misunderstandings or misconceptions on a range of topics: proofs and mathematical arguments, sums, differences, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and a true understanding of real numbers. Each presentation works in conjunction with a chapter in the book Number Theory for Elementary School Teachers and is adapted to fit a middle school or a high school environment. Each wikispace provides an overview of the historical perspective on the topic, the developmental perspective (when students begin to understand these concepts), and problems encountered surrounded this topic.The bulk of each wikispace builds on the developmental perspective in the book and provides developmentally appropriate strategies for middle school and high school students that need to acquire an understanding and the basic skills. Each link provides information of the topic as well as which of my colleagues developed the wikispace.
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Technology Demonstrations
Technology is sometimes the key to success for students. Accessing information in an interactive and hands-on way allows students to explore content on their own in a visual way. There are several software programs accessible for teachers to help mathematics teachers teach mathematics in an engaging and interesting way that students will enjoy. Below are wikispaces that were developed by colleagues (in groups of three) in which the use of technology in mathematics was illustrated using the SAMR model. Examples were shown at each of the four levels: substitution, augmentation, modification, and redefinition as well as how technology would be used in a math lesson. At least one example in each of these wikispaces demonstrates how the selected technology can be used to encourage students to model in mathematics, as defined by CCSS and NCTM. Each wikispace also addresses the ethical and legal implications (or potential problems) when using the technology.
*Middle School Lessons
Developing lessons for middle schoolers is a very different experience, indeed. With members within each content area, middle school lessons were created using the TPACK and the transformation levels of the SAMR model. The lessons below were developed to teach students content (not related to a basic algebra classroom) that were taught in thirty minutes or lesson. The lesson was presented to gifted and talented eighth grade students in a concept or topic of the group's choice.Algebra
Algebra Lesson (Slope): Ethan, Mykayla, SarahAlgebra Lesson Handout 1: Geogebra Tutorial
Algebra Lesson Handout 2: Prizes
Geometry
Geometry Lesson (Area): Brittany, Christina, ZackGeometry Lesson Handout 1: Surface Area Worksheet
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Units
Unit development is essential for any teacher. Meeting the standards while presenting content in an effective and interesting way, as well as accommodating students who lack pre-requisite skills or who are gifted can be challenged. Colleagues, again, are a great resource, for they are full of different and unique ideas. Below are links to teach of my colleagues' units, organized by content.To be redirected to a wikipage that organizes the unit by CCSS, click here.
Otherwise, here are the individual units completed by my peers:
Algebra
Equations and Inequalities Unit (Mykayla)Graphing Equations and Inequalities Unit (Ethan)
Quadratics Unit (Sarah)
Geometry
Circles Unit (Christina)Congruence Unit (Zack)
Similar Triangles Unit (Brittany)
Statistics and Probability
Data Summary & Representation (Jordan)Expected Value Unit (Brian)
Basic Probability Unit (Scott)
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